Kim Jong-un’s sister set to go to the South in Olympic delegation

● Kim Yo Jong a close confidant of the North Korean leader

The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will be part of the high-level delegation going to the South for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, Seoul has said.

South Korea’s Unification Ministry said North Korea informed it yesterday that Kim Yo Jong would be part of the delegation led by the country’s nominal head of state, Kim Yong Nam.

Seoul has said the delegation is due to arrive tomorrow.

Kim Yo Jong was promoted by her brother last year to a new post in the North’s ruling party that analysts said showed her activities are more substantive and more important than previously thought As well as Kim Yo Jong, the first vice director of the Central Committee of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party, the delegation will include Choe Hwi, chairman of the National Sports Guidance Committee, and Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the North’s agency that deals with inter-korean affairs.

Kim Yo Jong, believed to be in her late 20s or early 30s, is thought to be one of Kim Jongun’s closest confidants. They were born to the same mother, Ko Yong Hui.

The war-separated rivals are co-operating for a series of conciliatory measures during the Olympics, which Seoul sees as an opportunity to ease tensions with Pyongyang following an extended period of animosity over its nuclear weapons and missiles programme.

Sceptics think the North is trying to use the Olympics to weaken Us-led sanctions and pressure against the country and buy more time to advance its nuclear weapons and missiles programme.

North Korea has 22 athletes competing in the Winter Olympics but has also sent artists and a cheerleading squad.

A decision by South Korea to send the artists by sea has triggered debate in the South, where conservatives saw the move as a sure-fire sign that the North is trying to use the Olympics to ease the pressure against the country.

Seoul is reviewing whether to meet Pyongyang’s request to provide fuel to the ferry that transported the artists. Seoul exempted the ferry from sanctions to allow it in South Korean waters.

“We will closely discuss with the United States and other related nations the matter of providing convenience to the Mangyongbong ferry so that no problem regarding sanctions would occur,” Unification Ministry spokesman Baik Tae-hyun said.

Meanwhile, US vice-president Mike Pence said the US is preparing to announce the “toughest and most aggressive” economic sanctions against North Korea, boosting pressure on the regime during the Winter Olympics.

The US vice-president said: “The United States of America will soon unveil the toughest and most aggressive round of economic sanctions on North Korea ever – and we will continue to isolate North Korea until it abandons its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes once and for all.”

Mr Pence, who is set to lead the US delegation to the Olympics opening ceremonies on Friday, made the announcement in japan yesterday after meetings prime ministers hinzoA be.

The vice-president said the purpose of his trip is to ensure the North cannot “hijack” the Games, and his schedule includes symbolic events designed to highlight North Korea’s human rights abuses and nuclear programme.

US officials declined to detail the expected sanctions beyond Mr Pence’s comments, citing concerns that any additional information could be used by those trying to skirt the new measures.

They are expected to be implemented before the conclusion of the Games.

“The United States of America will soon unveil the tough est and most aggressive round of economic sanctions on North Korea ever”

MIKE PENCE